Lauderdale County, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lauderdale County
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Lauderdale County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
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 Mississippi's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Mississippi |
| Founded | 1833 |
| Named for | James Lauderdale |
| Seat | Meridian |
| Largest city | Meridian |
| Area | |
| • Total | 715 sq mi (1,850 km2) |
| • Land | 704 sq mi (1,820 km2) |
| • Water | 12 sq mi (30 km2) 1.6% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 72,984 |
| • Density | 102.08/sq mi (39.412/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Lauderdale County is a county located on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 72,984. The county seat and largest city is Meridian. The county is named for Colonel James Lauderdale, who was killed at the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812. Lauderdale County is included in the Meridian, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
An early explorer, Sam Dale, died in the county and is buried in Daleville. A large monument is placed at his burial site. Andrew Jackson traveled through the county on his way to New Orleans and a town was named Hickory after his nickname "Old Hickory".
The largest city in the county is Meridian, which was an important railway intersection during the early 20th century. It was also home to the Soule Steam Feed Works which manufactured steam engines. Logging and rail transport were important early industries in the county. One of the largest waterfalls in Mississippi, Dunns Falls, is located in the county and a water driven mill still exists on the site. Lauderdale county is also home to the headquarters of Peavey Electronics which has manufactured audio and music equipment for half a century.
Like much of the post-Reconstruction South the county has a checkered racial history with 16 documented lynchings in the period from 1877 to 1950; most occurred around the turn of the 20th century.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 715 square miles (1,850 km2), of which 704 square miles (1,820 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (1.6%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 59
Interstate 20
U.S. Highway 11
U.S. Highway 45
U.S. Highway 80
Mississippi Highway 19
Mississippi Highway 39
Adjacent counties
- Kemper County (north)
- Sumter County, Alabama (east)
- Choctaw County, Alabama (southeast)
- Clarke County (south)
- Newton County (west)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 5,358 | — | |
| 1850 | 8,717 | 62.7% | |
| 1860 | 13,313 | 52.7% | |
| 1870 | 13,462 | 1.1% | |
| 1880 | 21,501 | 59.7% | |
| 1890 | 29,661 | 38.0% | |
| 1900 | 38,150 | 28.6% | |
| 1910 | 46,919 | 23.0% | |
| 1920 | 45,897 | −2.2% | |
| 1930 | 52,748 | 14.9% | |
| 1940 | 58,247 | 10.4% | |
| 1950 | 64,171 | 10.2% | |
| 1960 | 67,119 | 4.6% | |
| 1970 | 67,087 | 0.0% | |
| 1980 | 77,285 | 15.2% | |
| 1990 | 75,555 | −2.2% | |
| 2000 | 78,161 | 3.4% | |
| 2010 | 80,261 | 2.7% | |
| 2020 | 72,984 | −9.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 70,527 | −12.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White | 36,534 | 50.06% |
| Black or African American | 31,980 | 43.82% |
| Native American | 101 | 0.14% |
| Asian | 571 | 0.78% |
| Pacific Islander | 28 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,981 | 2.71% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,789 | 2.45% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 72,984 people, 29,367 households, and 19,612 families residing in the county.
2015
As of 2015 the largest self-identified ancestry groups in Lauderdale County, Mississippi are:
- English - 9.3%
- Irish - 8.9%
- American - 8.0%
- German - 5.9%
- Scottish - 2.1%
- Scots-Irish - 1.7%
- Italian - 1.2%
- French (except Basque) - 1.1%
- French-Canadian - 0.6%
Education
Lauderdale County is within the service area of the East Mississippi Community College system. The system offers classes at the Naval Air Station Meridian Extension in Meridian. Other academic institutions are Meridian Community College, and Mississippi State University Meridian Campus.
Communities
City
- Meridian (county seat and largest municipality)
Town
- Marion (smallest municipality)
Unincorporated areas
Census-designated places
- Collinsville
- Lauderdale
- Meridian Station
- Nellieburg
- Toomsuba
Other communities
Notable people
- Samuel Dale (1772–1841), American frontiersman, known as the "Daniel Boone of Alabama" and a veteran of the Creek War of 1813–14. In 1836, Dale was elected as Lauderdale County's first representative in the Mississippi state legislature.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lauderdale (Misisipi) para niños
